Brake applying device



Oct. 4, 1938. s. N. NlcKLiss BRAKE APPLYING DEVICE 4 Sheets-Sheet.l

Filed Oct. 5, 1936 Aorneus 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor o a 4 f OGL 4, 1938. s. N. NlcKLlSS BRAKE APPLYING DEVICE Filed Oct. 3, 1936 hf/vg JU orneys CL 4, 1938. S N NlCKLlSS 2,32,080

BRAKE APPLYING DEVI CE Filed Oct. 3, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 vInvemfor torneuf Oct.. 4, E93 s. N` NlcKLlsS 2,132,080

BRAKE APPLYING DEVI CE Filed Oct. 3, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 A, a cc 7. N

ZY2J 3a /QJ a Inventor Patented Oct. 4, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Application October 3,

' Claims.

My invention relates generally to brake applying devices, and in particular to handwheel-operated devices for applying the brakes of railway freight cars and the like, and an important object 5 of the invention is to provide brake applying devices of this class which involve features of operation and release which eliminate the difiiculties and dangers incident to the operation and release of present types of brake operating devices. v

Another important object of my invention is to provide in a brake applying device of the character indicated, mechanism providing relocation of the brake applying device from the top of the freight car or the like to a side or end wall there'- of, thereby permitting operation and release of the brake applying device by the trainmen from a more protected and less hazardous position on the freight car or the like. y Y Another important object of my invention is to provide railway freight car brake applying devices of the character indicated above which are smooth in operation and which eliminate the hard operations and Akick-backs which are incident to the usual wheel-operated brake applying devices now in use.

Other important objects of my invention will be apparent from the reading of the following description taken in connection with the drawings, wherein for purposes of illustration I have shown preferred `embodiments of my invention.

`In the drawings: Figure 1 is a general transverse vertical sectional view taken through one embodiment of the invention.

Figure 2 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken through Figure 1, approximately on the line 2-2, and looking toward the left in the direction of the arrows.

Figure Sis a horizontal sectional view taken through Figure 1 approximately on the line 3 3 and looking downwardly in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of. one of the link assemblies.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the duplex dog.

-Figure 6 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken through another vembodiment'of the invention; and

Figure '7 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken through Figure 6.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the numeral 5 generally designates'an end portion of a freight carer the like having the vertical wall 6 upon which is mounted by means of ears 'I and 1936, Serial N0. 103,951

(Cl. i4-507) bolts 8 the casing which is generally designated 9 and which may suitably be of rectangular box form of suitable strength and size and be provided in its top with an opening I0 and in its bottom with an opening II through which the substantially perpendicular rack bar i2 works and to whose lower end is attached, and generally indicated by the numeral I 3, the brakeoperating cable Ii which leads to the freight car brakes (not shown).

The teeth I5 of the rack bar I2 are in mesh with the teeth of the upper pinion I6 and the lower pinion I'I,

The upper pinion I3 is xed on a shaft I8 and alongside the pinion I3 and fixed to this shaft is the wheel I9 which is formed in its circumference with equally circumferentially spaced toothed lugs 20. A similarly formed wheel 2l is located on the axle I8 at the opposite side of the pinion I6, and the lug-equipped peripheries of these wheels I9 and 2| engage the rounded noses 22 and 23, respectively, of the arms 24 andV 25 of the duplex dog which is generally designated 26 and which is fastened by means of bolts 21 passing thro-ugh openings 28 in the web thereof, as clearly indicated in Figures 1 and 5.

Running against the smooth side of the rack bar I2 to hold the rack bars teeth in mesh with the pinions I6 and Il are the upper and lower rollers 28 and 29 which are mounted in the U-shaped brackets 30 and 3| fastened to the same wall of theV casing 9 to which the duplex dog 26 is fastened, as clearly shown in Figure 1.

'Ihe shaft I8 is carried by and between the crossheads 34 and 35 on the links 32 and 33 of the upper link assembly, and the foot portions y of the links are provided with openings 35 seating a rock shaft 3l which is mounted by a bracket 38 on the wall 39 of the casing 9.

Below the upper link assembly is the lower link assembly which is comprised by T-shaped links l0 and 4I similar in form to the links 32 and 33 and carrying the shaft i2 in a manner similar to the manner in which the shaft I8 is carried, and the foot portions of these links are pivoted on the rock shaft 44 which is supported by a bracket 45 fastened to the Wall 39 of the casing below the bracket 33, as clearly shown in Figures 1 and 2.

Fixed to the shaft 44 is a pinion 45 which is meshed with a gear 46 which is in fixed relation to the pinion Il, the pinion Il being in mesh with the teeth I 5 of the rack bar, as already indicated.

The shaft 44 extends from the front of the casing, as indicated in Figure 2, and thereat is provided with the handwheel 60.

When the handwheel 6I) is rotated by the trainman in a direction to cause the rack bar I2 to move upwardly and tighten the brakes of the freight car, the engagement of the rack kteeth with the pinion I6 will cause rotation of the shaft I8 and consequently of the lugequipped wheels I9 and 2| in a counterclockwise direction so that the lugs 20 on these wheels will tend to push up'and away from the noses 22 and 23 of the duplex dog 26. Since the movement of the rack bar I2 is in an upward direction, and the curvature of the lugs 2li is adequate to the purpose, the upper links 32, 33 will move upwardly suiciently under the cam action of the lugs 2l) and the noses 22 and 23 toV permit the wheels I9 and 2| to rotate and become comparatively free of impeding engagement with the dog 26, so that the rack bar I2 may move upwardly freely in the brake applying direction. When the operating wheel G6 is stopped when the brakes have Abeen adequately applied, the downward pull of the cable I4 on the rack bar I2 will cause the rack bar to subside slightly or suiiiciently to pull the upper link assembly downwardly and engage the lugs 20 on the wheels I9 and 2l with sufficient force against the noses 22 and 23 on the duplex dog 26, to positively prevent clockwise rotation of the wheels I9 and 2I, and consequentlyV prevent the rack bar I2 from being pulled downwardly; so that the brakes are positively kept applied.

To release the applied brakes, it is necessary simply'to turn the handwheel Si! sufficiently in the counterclockwise direction to rot-ate gears 46 and I'I in a clockwise direction. This will cause an upward reaction of the links 4B and 4I. engage and lift the links 32 and 33, thereby re,- leasing the wheels I9 and 2l from the noses 22 and 23. It is to be noted that this manner of releasing the brakes doesnotV put any kick-back on the operating wheel E@ and the trainman is protected against any kick-back or rough action which might injure his hands or throw him from the car. The abutting ends of the cross-heads on the link assembliesareV so arranged that the proper spaced relation of the link assemblies will be positively maintained'in any independ ent action of the link assemblies. Y

Referring now to the embodiment of the invention shown in `Figures 6 and 7, and employing the same general principle as the already described embodiment, the slightly modified casing is generally designated 9a, and this has hinged to one end wall thereof -by means of a bracket 50 yat the point designated 5I the link assembly which comprises the links 32a and 33a corresponding to the links 32 and 33 in the already described embodiment, and a shaft I8a corresponding in function to the shaft I8 is carried by the free ends of the links and on this shaft are axially spaced lug-equipped wheels lea and AZlal corresponding to thewheels I9 and 2i, and between these wheels is located a drum I to which is attached a linked chain 52 at the point designated 53, which chain is adapted to be wound on this drum during the operation of the device and from which the chain is unwound during the releasing of the device. Stop brackets 54 and 55 are fastened to the front and back of the casing 9a, to limit the upward movement of the links 32a and 33a. The chain 52 depends through an opening Ila. in the bot- During this reaction the links 40 and 4l' to the lugs 20 in the already described embodiment.

These lugs 20a are spaced and arranged and formed to cooperate with a substantial portion of the peripheries of lugs 54 which are arranged in circumferentially spaced groups of four on the shaft 44a which is mounted in bearings 55 and 5t on the front and back walls of the casing 9a and projects from the front thereof for accommod-ation of the handwheel (not shown).

As indicated in Figure 6, the contour of the lugs 54 and the spacing thereof are such that two adjacent lugs 54 will be on opposite sides of a respective one of the lugs 26a and in full engagement with thev trough between adjacent ones of the lugs, so that clockwise rotation of the wheels Illa and 2Ia. will be positively prevented while there is a brake holding or operating pull on the chain 52, which, as shown in Figure 6, is yattached to pull the wheels in a clockwise direction. Y

To release the brakes by feeding the chain 52 down through the opening IIa, the chain being wound on the drum 5I, all that'is required is to rotate the shaft 44a in counterclockwise direction which will cause the lobes 54 by their engagement with the lugs 23a and the spaces between Ysuch lugs to rotate the wheels Ilia and2 Ia, in a clockwise directionto unwind the chain 52 from the drum and during this movement the wheels Aand the links 32a, and 33a.v will move upwardly and downwardly so that the lugsl 20a can pass the lobes 54, but asone lobe will engage a recess between a pair of lugs 20a before the other lobe passes from the recess there will be no free movement of the Wheels. As will be seen in both directions of rotation of the shaft Mathe lobes54 and the wheels Isa and 2id act as gearing, except that the parts are so formed that thewheels will swing upwardly with the links 32a and 33a in certain positioning of the lobes in` order to permit the lobes to pass but one lobe is always in engagement with a recess before anotherglobe leavesv the recess so that there is no slippingof the Wheels. As in the case of the first described embodiment, there is no jerk or kick-back in this releasing action, but the action is smooth and Vregular throughout the entire range of brake application and brake release. I

Although I have shown and described herein preferred embodiments of my invention, it iste beV definitely understood that I do not desire toV limit the application of the invention thereto, and change or changes may be made in the materials, and in the construction and arrangement of. the parts, within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the claims.

What is claimed is: f

1. A brake applying device of the character described comprising a handwheel-.equipped shaft,

gageable by said cam action teeth whereby said wheel and said second wheel means are normally prevented from operating in a rack bar subsiding direction while said shaft is stationary, said carrier is depressed, and the rack bar is under the load of applied brakes, said cam teeth being conditioned to slide over said third means to enable releasing action of second wheel means and permitting subsiding of the rack bar only when said shaft is sufficiently rotated in brake applying direction to release said cam teeth from said third means by elevating said rack bar and said carrier.

2. A brake applying device of the character described comprising a casing, a handwheelequipped shaft mounted in said housing, a brake applying iiexible member leading upwardly from the brake into said housing and arranged to be drawn upwardly to apply the brake and to subside for releasing the brake, a lug-equipped wheel, means connected to said casing and swingably carrying said lug-equipped wheel, said flexible member being operatively connected to said wheel,

a relatively non-swingable member including projections cooperable with the lugs on the wheel, said projections acting to prevent brake releasing rotation of said wheel while said means is in a depressed position and while a downward pull is being exerted by applied brakes on said flexible member.

3. A brake applying device of the character described comprising a casing, a handwheelequipped shaft mounted in said housing, a brake applying flexible member leading upwardly from the brake into said housing and arranged to be drawn upwardly to apply the brake and to subside for releasing the brake, a lug-equipped wheel, means connected to said casing and swingably carrying said lug-equipped wheel, said flexible member being operatively connected to said wheel,

a relatively non-swingable member including projections cooperable with the lugs on the wheel, said projections acting to prevent brake releasing rotation of said wheel while said means is in a depressed position and while a downward pull is being exerted by applied brakes on said flexible member, said projections being circumferentially arranged on said handwheel-operated shaft.

4. A brake applying device vof the character described comprising a casing, a handwheel-V equipped shaft mounted in said housing, a brake applying flexible member leading upwardly from the brake into said housing and arranged to be drawn upwardly to apply the brake and to subside for releasing the brake, a lug-equipped wheel, means connected to said casing and swingably carrying said lug-equipped wheel, said flexible member being operatively connected to said wheel, a relatively non-swingable member including projections cooperable with the lugs on the wheel, said projections acting to prevent brake releasing rotation of said wheel while said means is in a depressed position and while a downward pull is being exerted by applied brakes on said flexible member, said projections being stationarily mounted on said casing.

5. A device of the class described comprising -a wheel having spaced lugs on its periphery forming spaces between the lugs, pivoted links supporting the wheel for swinging movement in a vertical plane, a rotary shaft, means for operating the same and lobes on the shaft engaging the spaces between the lugs, said shaft being located under a portion of the wheel, whereby the wheel will rest on the lobes when in lowered position and the lobes being constructed and arranged to provide a lifting motion of the wheel during the I rotary movement of the shaft, as the lobes pass the lugs.

STEPHEN N. NICIQJISS. 

